Seventh Generation

87. Johan Josef (Giuseppe) DEJAKO¹²¹ was born on June 24, 1878 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley. He and his brother Franz Dejaco are shown in the photograph of the Riflemen of Wolkenstein (ca. 1920) - First row, from left: Josef Senoner da Cësanueva, Pico Demetz , Tondo Runggaldier (Hauptmann), Anton Kostner dl Puter, Mateo Mussner da Plazola, Engl Mussner da Mulin. Second row, from left: Gustin Nocker, Ferdinand Pitscheider, ?, Josef Dejaco, Celestin Senoner, Tita Delago. Third row, from left: Tubia Demetz dl Pinzigher, Vinzenz Delago de Dróc, ?, Franz Dejaco, Nazio Lardschneider de Ciampac Their rallying cry was "For God and Fatherland".

A brief history of the Tyrolean Defense Force: Under an old Austrian rule issued by Emperor Maximilian in 1511, the local national defense was organized in Tirol as the Tyrolean Defense Force. The recruitment of young and courageous men took place to defend national borders. The firing exercises took place on shooting ranges found in almost every place. In the municipality of Wolkenstein, for example, they used in a very beautiful, long valley. On the shooting ranges target practice was mostly held on Sunday. Often there were shooting competitions, where judges and officials were present. In the decades before 1900 the front loading rifles were used, but soon thereafter more modern repeating rifles and guns were used.

Since historical times the competitive military exercises were repeatedly held in the neighboring Gadertal, particularly in Corvara. This was normal before the start of the Great War, for example, in 1848, then into the 1860 years, around 1910, and at other times. Until 1900 there were only a few organized companies in Tirol at the local level. At Wolkenstein a company of the Defense Force protected the countryside until 1900. Then in the year 1902, about 15 years before end of the Habsburg monarchy, a local company was organized in Wolkenstein, and its historical flag is inscribed with the date 15.8.1902.

He sent a letter to his uncle in America on May 17, 1922. In the letter he congratulated his uncle and American family. "It was always a great joy for us to see that two of your sons [Fr. Francis DeJaco & Fr. Louis DeJaco] are serving at the altar of God. We ask them to remember us at times in their Holy Masses". He was also thankful for the wedding photo and wished the "bride and bridegroom [Edward DeJaco and Helen Miller] gave us also much pleasure. We wish them much happiness in their married life." Then Josef the mentions that his "wife is from Holsterlilz in Mahren. She was 14 years [married] in Wien and from there she married to St. Christina. Her first husband died in the war and now she is my wife. I am very happy with her, I am more than satisfied." He concludes saying that "It would be a great joy for us if we could welcome somebody from you at any time here".

He sent another letter to his uncle in America on May 25, 1923. Josef thanked his uncle for the "pictures and the news about your people. We are so happy to know that you are blessed with two priests [Fr. Francis DeJaco & Fr. Louis DeJaco]. I recommend that you ask the priest to say a Mass for those family members that are alive and pray for them one Hail Mary for their good friends, because we want peace for all the relatives that are alive. We pray to find more pictures and to find all our relatives".

He died on January 4, 1955 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley.

Johan Josef (Giuseppe) DEJAKO and Filomine ALTON were married about 1900.

Filomine ALTON¹²² (daughter of Joh Bapt ALTON and Katharina UBERBACHER) was born in 1881 in Colfusco in Val Badia, Tyrol (Austria). She died on October 2, 1918 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley.

Johan Josef (Giuseppe) DEJAKO and Filomine ALTON had the following children:

+139	i.	Maria Elizabeth (Else) DEJAKO.
140	ii.	Maria Franziska DEJAKO123 was born on July 29, 1903 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley. She died on August 7, 1903.
141	iii.	Johann Josef DEJAKO124 was born on May 29, 1904 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley. He died on July 2, 1904 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley.
142	iv.	Jordan Johann DEJAKO125 was born on July 9, 1905 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley. He died on July 11, 1905 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley.
143	v.	Johann DEJAKO126 was born on May 15, 1907 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley.
144	vi.	Emil Erhard DEJAKO was born on January 11, 1909 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley. He died on January 11, 1909 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley.
+145	vii.	Maria Magdelina DEJAKO.
146	viii.	Hermann DEJAKO127 was born on June 30, 1913 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley. He died on October 31, 1940 in Innsbruck, Austria.
147	ix.	Maximilian DEJAKO128 was born on September 7, 1914 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley. He died on September 8, 1914 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley.
148	x.	Anonymous DEJAKO was born on July 21, 1915 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley. He died on July 21, 1915 in Wolkenstein/Selva in the Gröden Valley.
+149	xi.	Rudolf Ludwig DEJAKO.